toolman04

I hope this topic wasn't covered previously, but I did a search and couldn't find any threads that addressed the issue specifically.

I am currently preparing for my initial CFI (part 61-style, so all self-study until I fly out for an accelerated finish-up course in AZ). As I was considering how best to convey particular subject matter to future students, I came across the topic of navigation and, in particular, aviation computations. Now, I haven't used my old metal E6B since my Private Pilot days about 10 yrs ago. When I began my Instrument training, I purchased one of Sporty's electronic versions, which I continue to use for all of my flight planning. Admittedly, I had to do a bit of brushing up on using the "old school" E6B. This led me to wonder, in this era of glass cockpits and EFIS, how much emphasis is placed on utilizing this type of flight computer? It seems to me, if a student were so inclined, he/she could opt to purchase and learn the electronic computer to use for flight computations and the written test. I'm not sure how this would fly (no pun intended) with an examiner on the practical, but couldn't pin down any regulatory guidance that would prohibit this. My question is: what is the general consensus concerning the use of flight computers during initial flight training, and are there any requirements I am missing concerning the CFI portion? I know that, personally, I would want my students to learn the most primative method first and then allow them the option to "upgrade" after they had demonstrated an understanding of the basic concepts. However, I'm not sure how applicable this theory is to flight calculations and navigation - it's not as if obtaining the correct answer using one method vs. another will have any affect on one's ability to actually navigate (unlike the GPS vs. pilotage debate). I acknowledge the arguments that exist concerning battery failure and so forth, but if spare batteries are carried and rule-of-thumb computations are generally utilized during in-flight diverts, etc, how applicable is this? Just as I am a proponent of students learning instruments on gauges and needles before progressing to glass cockpits, this isn't always the outcome in this age of ever-growing dependancy on aviation technology. Sorry for the long post. Any thoughts?

Spartan07

FYI - Electronics like ASA's CX-2 are usable on FAA Written and Practical examinations. They have to be capable of wiping their own stored memory but other than that not much is said about using them as opposed to the E6. But from a practical standpoint as a student I still use the E6B and I probably will continue to do so until I'm in to or past my Comm. You can actually do most flight computations almost twice as fast on the E6 as you can on the CX-2.

I own a CX-2 and I use it for weight and balance (Started doing that after I became comfortable with the mathematics behind it) and other preflight activities (Finding altitudes etc.) but I leave it in the flight bag while actually flying and use the good ole' E6.

N0315

I like AOPA flight planner. Gives me all the data for a flight and is dead on. Where I am working on my CFI, the students there ALL use E6's, I don't think I have ever seen a electronic one. So I would say brush up on it good.

emsgoof

The kit I got for my private pilot (part 141 school, Jepp kit) contained an E6B. I looked at it, gave my instructor a funny look, and his reply was "If you don't like it, buy one of the electronic ones." My instrument instructor showed me one day how to use it, but I've forgotten.
My DPE didn't seem to mind me using the electronic one, and it was ok to use on the test (I bought a Sporty's electronic E6B).
Yes, I carry spare batteries for it, in addition to spare batteries for the mini-mag. My outlook is if I'm in a situation that I'm having to use the flashlight, the darn electric E6B will choose that moment to die, so better to have spares for it to

Cubdriver

As teachers we should be comfortable with both. I use the CX2 for flight planning and study questions, but in the air I think I prefer the whiz wheel because it is faster and more impervious to bouncing, missed keystrokes and battery failure. Generally one is not as worried about accuracy in the air as in planning or testing, and of course the mechanical wheels are not quite as accurate. In real life neither is used for vfr flying much anymore, so it's mainly educational.

the King

I teach my students how to use the whiz wheel. If they want to use an electronic E6-B, I let them, but I tell them they need to read the manual and learn how to use it on their own. Just a personal preference, but I'm as fast with the old-school E6-B as a student with an electronic.